Logging appliance



Dec. 31', 1929.

T. GILLMET LOGGING APPLIANCE 5 Sheets-Sheet Dec. 31, 1929. T. GILLMET I LOGGING APPLIANCE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 3mm- T 6 17111162 Filed March 26, 1929 T. GILLMET Dec. 31, 1929.

LOGGING APPLIANCE 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 215, 1929' 7 3mm T Gil/me Z M attozmg Patented Dec. 31, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LOGGING APPLIANCE Application filed March 26, 1929. Serial No. 350,070.

This invention relates to logging appliances and more particularly to loading apparatus for log transporting vehicles such as sleds.

An important object of the invention is to provide a structure providing for the loading of lumbering sleds or the like, without the necessity of orienting a sled with a stump, tree or some other fixed support to which the sheave. the traction cable or rope employed in the loading of the sled may be connected.

A further and more specific object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved supporting means for the sheave of such loading cables orchains which is mounted upon the sled and may be very read ly re moved therefrom at any time when its removal is desired.

' A still further object of the invention is to provide in a logging sled an arrangement such that a skid element may be readily connected to the sled and to the skids or sills upon which the logs-are piled, to facilitate movement of the logs from the pile to the sled.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a structure of the above character which may be applied to the sled without materially altering the present construction thereof, and which may be very readily and cheaply manufactured, while at the same time giving the structure the necessary ruggedness.

These and other objects I attain by the construction shown in the accompanying drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention and wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation of a logging sled constructed in accordance with my invention, the sled being shown in the operation of loading;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the sled in the arrangement illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the sled;

Figure 4 is a detailed sectional view illustrating the manner .of mounting the skid elements on the stake sockets and of connecting the stake sockets to hold them in upright position;

Figure 5 is a plan view of the portions of the structure illustrated in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a detailed plan view of the loading mechanism;

Figure 7 is a detailed sectional View showing the manner of supporting-the skid elements from the skid logs of the pile.

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional View through. the coupling between the connected links of the sheer structure showing the mounting of the chain sheave.

Figure 9 is a longitudinal sectional View through the loading chain roller disposed between the links of the sheer structure.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numerals 10 and 11 designate front and rear bunks having sled runners 12 of the usual construction applied thereto. The front sled unit formed by the bunk 10 and its runners 11 is dirigible and has means 13 whereby it may be connected to a tractor or other means for moving the structure over the ground, while the rear sled structure has the forward ends of the runners 12 thereof connected to the front bunk 10, by cross chains 14;, thus providing for steering of the rear sled.

Each bunk 10 and 11 has secured thereto a transverse sill 15, the ends of which has pivotally secured thereto as at 16, stake sockets 17, each of which comprises a channel member having its base outwardly disposed, and provided upon its outer face with stake receiving eyes 18. The eyes of each socket removably support a stake 19, these stakes having attheir outer faces eyes 20, usually employed for connecting the stakes with brace chains.

The ends of sills 15 are connected by rigid links 21 which maintain these sills in parallel relation, while at the same time permitting limited oscillation thereof. The structure just described is substantially that of the ordinary logging sled.

In accordance with my invention I provide the inner ends of the pivots 16 of the stake holders at corresponding sides of the sled with eyes 22 adapted to receive connections for the inner lower ends of rigid links 23. The upper end of links 23 are eonnectedto the upper outer ends of links 24 and to shackle eye 25, by rings 26 or other connections, which will permit links 23 to be placed in parallel relation to one another, and side to side, and the links 24 to be arranged alongside thereof. 7

The lower ends of links 24 are connected by a chain 2'? or other suitable tether upon the center of which is preferably mounted an idler roller 28, having a concave face, the mountings of this roller being at present shown as comprising a bar 29 directed through the roller and having enlargements 30 at the ends thereof, preventing longitudinal movement of the roller. These enlargements constitute eyes permitting attachment thereto of the end portions of the tether. The

, :Ineans for connecting the ends of the tether to the lower ends of links 24 preferably comprise rings 31, each ring 31 having a hook 32 for engagement in a chain receiving eye 20 of the stake. Links 24 have a combined length greater than the distance between the stakes 19 and the links 23 are of greater length than the links 24, so that when these links are secured to their several points of support, the shackle eye 25 is supported outwardly of the sled structure and centrally with relation thereto and is rigidly braced with relation to the sled structure.

This shackle eye supports a sheave 34 over which is passed aloading chain or cable 35,

l which may then be passed beneath and about roller 28 for connection to a log which should be loaded on the sled from the opposite side thereof. The preferred means of connecting this loading chain comprises the usual crotch chain 36, having at its ends hooks or dogs 37 project slightly from the channel.

This skid has at one end a lug element 40 adapted to engage in the upper eye of a stake socket and at its opposite end is provided with means for securing it to a sill of the log pile. This means, in the present instance, comprises a dog including pivotally connected elements 41 and 42. Theelement 41 is in the form of a single hook while the element 42 is in the form of a pair of diverging hooks pivoted to the element 41. The hook elements are adapted to be driven into the log forming the sill and between the hook elements of the lower section 42, and rigidly secured thereto is an outwardly and upwardly extending hook 43 adapted to receive the outer end of the skid element 38 and support the same.

In order that the stake socket may be held in its unpright position I swivel upon each sill element 15 adjacent opposite ends there of, an arm 44 adapted to receive an eye 45 at one end of a chain 46 secured to the adjacent stake element. The free end of this arm has flexible element 47 secured thereto, this flexible element extending longitudinally of the sill and being detachably secured to the sill adjacent the opposite end thereof from the arm, as at 48.

This structure not only provides a means for retaining the stake socket in its upright position but likewise provides a convenient means permitting the stakes to be released for dumping of the load, without endangering the person who is efi'ecting the release.

In the use of the apparatus, the sheers formed by the links 23, and 24 are connected to the stakes at the opposite side of the sled structure from the logs which are to be loaded, and a pair of skid elements 38 are mounted on the stake sockets at the opposite side of the sled and extended to the sills of the pile.

The loading chain is then rove in the manner above described and connected to form power apparatus, such as a tractor, a team or the like. The logs, by use of this apparatus, may be drawn over the skid elements 38, and positioned upon the sills. Attention is directed to the fact that by this arrangement a solid support is provided for the loading chain without having to resort to connection to a stump or tree, which is not always convenient, and accordingly the loading is materially facilitated.

It will be obvious that a structure of this character may be readily removed from a sled at any time, so that it will not in any way interfere with manipulation of the sled in close quarters.

Since this structure is capable of a certain range of change and modification without in any manner departing from the spirit of the invention, I accordingly do not limit myself to such specific structure except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim 1. In combination with a logging vehicle including spaced supports for logs and uprights extending upwardly from said supports at one end thereof, a sheer structure including two pairs of links of different lengths, the shorter link of each pair being secured to an upright and the longer link thereof to the support associated with the upright, the opposite ends of said links being connected to one another, a sheave supported at the junction of the links and adapted'for the passage of a logging chain, and means connecting said uprights to prevent separation thereof.

2. In combination with a logging vehicle including spaced supports for logs and uprights extending upwardly from said supports at one end thereof, a sheer structure including two pairs of links of different lengths, the shorter link of each pair being secured to an upright and the longer link thereof to the support associated with the upright, the opposite ends of said links being connected to one another, a sheave supported at the junction of the links and adapted for the passage of a logging chain, means connecting said uprights to prevent separation thereof, and a roller supported by said connecting means for guiding the logging chain.

3. In combination with a logging vehicle including spaced supports for logs and uprights extending upwardly from said supports at one end thereof, a sheer structure including two pairs of links of different lengths, the shorter link of each pair being secured to an upright and the longer link thereof to the support associated with the upright the opposite ends of said links being connected to one another, a sheave supported at the junction of the links and adapted for the passage of a logging chain, and a flexible element connecting the upright engaging ends of the shorter links.

4;. In combination with a logging vehicle including spaced supports for logs and uprights extending upwardly from said supports at one end thereof, a sheer structure including two pairs of links of different lengths, the shorter link of each pair being secured to an upright and the longer link thereof to the support associated with the upright, the opposite ends of said links being connected to one another, a sheave supported at the junction of the links and adapted for the passage of a logging chain, a flexible element connecting the upright engaging ends of the shorter links, and an idler guiding roller for said logging chain supported by said flexible element.

5. In a logging sled, spaced log supporting sills, a stake socket at each end of each sill, a transverse pin securing each socket to its sill, each pin having a bifurcated end, a stake mounted in each socket, a sheer structure at one side of the sled between adjacent ends of the sills including two pairs of links of different lengths, the shorter link of each pair being secured at one end to an adjacent stake and the longer link thereof being secured to the bifurcated end of an adjacent stake socket pin, the opposite ends of said links being connected to one another, and a sheave supported at the junction of the links and adapted for the passage of a logging chain.

6. A logging sled comprising a sled body, spaced log supporting sills mounted upon the sled body, a stake socket at each end of each sill, a pin pivotally securing each socket to its sill and having one end bifurcated, a stake for each socket, adjacent stakes upon one side of the sled having eye members secured therein above the sockets, a sheer structure disposed between the eye carrying stakes including two pairs of links of different lengths, the shorter link of each pair being secured to an adjacent stake eye and the longer link thereof being secured to an adjacent bifurcated pin, the opposite ends of said links being connected to one another, a sheave sup ported at the junction of the links and adapted for the passage of a logging chain, a chain connecting the eyes of said stakes, and a roller supported by said last chain for guiding the logging chain.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

' THOMAS GILLMET. 

